Religion in Ethiopia

 The Rift Valley Institute and the Peace Research Facility published in 2023 a study titled "Religion in Contemporary Ethiopia: History, Politics and Inter-Religious Relations" by Jorg Haustein, Abduletif Kedir Idris, and Diego Maria Malara.  

Religion has made a political comeback in Ethiopia under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and is once again part of the political discourse.  Religious affiliation in Ethiopia is part of a multi-layered nexus incorporating ethnicity and other, secondary, social characteristics, such as occupation or class.

The study provides an overview of the politics of religion since the making of the modern Ethiopian nation state in the nineteenth century.  It surveys the four most important faith groups in Ethiopia--Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Protestantism/Pentecostalism, and traditional religions.  Finally, it explores inter-religious relations. 

Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas in Washington

 The Washington Post published on 7 January 2024 an article titled "A Candlelit Orthodox Christmas in D.C. with an Ethiopian Vibe" by Jenna Portnoy.  

The article describes an Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Christmas on 7 January in Washington at the Debre Meheret Kedus Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral.  

Ethiopia's Ominous New War in Amhara Region

 The International Crisis Group published on 16 November 2023 an analysis titled "Ethiopia's Ominous New War in Amhara." 

Ethiopia is sliding into another conflict as many of Prime Minister Abiy's key Amhara allies during the war with Tigray region revolt against his rule.  Tensions between Amhara and factions in neighboring Oromia, which faces its own rebellion, add to the challenge.  

Ethiopian Troops Force Amhara Militia Out of One of Country's Most Famous Cities

 Aljazeera published on 9 November 2023 an article titled "Ethiopian Troops Force Armed Group Out of Orthodox Site of Lalibela."

Fierce fighting on 8 November between the Amhara Fano militia and Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) resulted in Fano control of much of this UNESCO world heritage site. The ENDF regained control of Lalibela on 9 November.   

Religion in Contemporary Ethiopia

 The Rift Valley Institute and the Peace Research Facility published on 29 May 2023 a study titled "Religion in Contemporary Ethiopia: History, Politics and Inter-Religious Relations" by Jorg Haustein, Abduletif Kedir Idris, and Diego Malara.  

Religion in Ethiopia has made a political comeback under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.  Religion is once again part of political discourse, whether it be in defining political constituencies, demarcating differences, or articulating visions of Ethiopian unity.  This 67-page review offers a comprehensive introduction to the current religious situation in Ethiopia.  

Ethiopia's Mixed Signals

 The Council on Foreign Relations blog posted on 3 May 2023 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Mixed Signals" by Michelle Gavin.  

Ethiopia has experienced recent positive developments, not the least of which is the end of fighting in Tigray Region, but this is not the time to ignore continuing threats to stability.  

Divisions in Ethiopian Orthodox Church Add to Country's Woes

 The Washington Post published on 12 April 2023 an article titled "Divisions in Ethiopia's Ancient Church Pose New Threat to War-weary Country" by Katharine Houreld.

Regional and ethnic differences among Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayans within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are adding to disunity in Ethiopia.

Religion, Politics, and the State in Ethiopia

 The Rift Valley Institute published in March 2023 a briefing paper titled "Religion, Politics and the State in Ethiopia" by the Peace Research Facility.  

The briefing paper looks at key issues in the relationship between religious groups, politics, and the state in Ethiopia with a focus on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Islam, Protestantism, and traditional religions.  

Tension Remains in Ethiopian Orthodox Church

 Ethiopia Insight published on 28 February 2023 a commentary titled "A Rift in Ethiopia's Orthodox Church Has Been Healed, But Tensions Remain."

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has averted an internal crisis but still faces divisions that could tear apart the institution and the country.  The current split is driven by ethnic rivalry and a power struggle between the Oromo and the Amhara ethnic groups.

Ethiopia: Reimaging Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

 Ventures posted on 15 February 2023 a commentary titled "A Nobel Peace Prize and Spates of Conflicts: How Ethiopia's Conflicts Reimage Abiy Ahmed's Regime" by Ishioma Imokhai-Bello.  

The author tracks Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's leadership from a promising beginning to a phase filled with conflict.

Protest Over Language Use in Ethiopian Orthodox Church Shuts Down Social Media

 The Associated Press published on 10 February 2023 an article titled "Ethiopia's Social Media Blocked Amid Church Split Tensions."

A dispute within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church over the use of local languages resulted in calls on social media for protest rallies in Oromia Region.  The government then suspended access to social media platforms.

A Christian Look at the Ethiopian Peace Agreement

 Christianity Today published on 11 November 2022 an article titled "Ethiopia-Tigray Peace Agreement Contains Biblical Mandate" by Jayson Casper.

This article looks at the recent peace agreement between the central government and Tigray Region from the standpoint of Christian religious persons in Ethiopia.  

Ethiopia: A War on Itself

 National Geographic published in November 2021 an article titled "A War on Itself" by Lynsey Addario and Rachel Hartigan.  

The article, with numerous photographs, covers the war between Tigray Region and the central government.  

Comment:  You know you have a problem when National Geographic covers your humanitarian crisis.

Civil War Splits Ethiopian Orthodox Church

 The BBC posted on 4 October 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Tigray Crisis: From Monk to Soldier - How War Has Split a Church" by Fasikaw Menberu and Farouk Chathia.  

Most Amhara and Tigrayans are members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC).  The current Patriarch of the EOC is an ethnic Tigrayan.  The conflict in Ethiopia has increasingly become a conflict between Tigrayans and Amhara, ethnic groups whose regions border each other.  This conflict has also led to a split in the EOC.  

Ethiopia's Tigray Crisis: What Do You Call It?

 The BBC published on 28 May 2021 a commentary titled "Ethiopia Tigray Crisis: Warnings of Genocide and Famine" by Alex de Waal, Tufts University.

The author reviews the arguments surrounding the use of the term "genocide" in the case of the crisis in Tigray Region and the earlier crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.  He concludes in the case of Tigray that "there's little appetite for considering whether it is genocide, fearing it will inflame emotions that would impede, not facilitate, solutions."

Head of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Speaks Out on Situation in Tigray

 The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Mathias, recently spoke out via YouTube in a 15 minute video on the situation in Tigray Region of Ethiopia.  Muzzled until now, Abune Mathias spoke in Addis Ababa; the video has English subtitles. 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church college of electors named Abune Mathias to his position as head of the Church in 2013 after he had served as Bishop in North America.  He was born in Tigray Region.  

Destruction of Religious Heritage Sites in Tigray Region

 African Arguments posted on 12 March 2021 a commentary titled "Tigray: Why are Soldiers Attacking Religious Heritage Sites?" by Mariz Tadros, University of Sussex.  

The author asks why Ethiopian and Eritrean troops are reportedly looting religious heritage sites in Tigray Region.  

Video of Ethiopia's Lalibela Churches

 CBS News 60 Minute program ran a 13 minute video titled "Lalibela: 11 Churches, Each Sculpted Out of a Single Block of Stone 800 Years Ago" with Scot Pelley.  

This is a wonderful tribute during the Christmas season to Ethiopia during a particularly troubled time.  

Ethiopia Charges Opposition Party Leader and Members

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 25 September 2020 an article titled "Ethiopian Prosecutors Charge Jawar with Training Terror Group in Egypt" by Leul Estifanos, freelance court reporter.

Ethiopian federal prosecutors charged opposition Oromo Federalist Congress leader Jawar Mohammed and 23 others with ten crimes including training a terrorist group in Egypt with the intention of toppling the Ethiopian government by force.  The author detailed the charges without commenting on them.  

Ethiopia: Two Book Reviews

The American Interest published in March 2020 two book reviews titled "The Long Ethiopian Century" by James Barnett, journalist covering East Africa.

The author reviewed two recent books about Ethiopia: The Wife's Tale: A Personal History by Aida Edemariam and The Shadow King: A Novel by Maaza Mengiste. The Wife's Tale is a personal history of the 97-year life of the author's Ethiopian grandmother. The Shadow King is a novel based on a female resistance fighter during the Italo-Ethiopian war.